Important Residence Hall Dates

Students gather in a res hall room

To aid students in their planning process the Residence Life Office posts important dates for the current and upcoming academic year. Please refer to the dates below when making travel arrangements to and from Cornell. Students are not permitted in their residence hall room before the time indicated and must vacate their residence hall room by the time indicated. No exceptions are allowed. Students who find it necessary to arrive earlier or depart later are expected to make alternative off-campus arrangements.

Please note the information found on the corresponding links are for the current academic year and are available for reference only.  Links pertaining to fall semester dates will be updated over winter break and links pertaining to spring semester dates will be updated over the summer to reflect information for the following academic year.

Important Res Hall Dates & Events

Fall Semester Event

Time

2025-2026

Residence halls open for new students

8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Residence halls open for transfer students

8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Residence halls open for returning students

9:00 a.m.

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Last day to change meal plans for fall semester

4:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Fall break begins (residence halls remain open)

 

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Living & Learning Community application process begins*

4:00 p.m. TBD
Resident Assistant selection begins 3:30 p.m. TBD

Residence halls close for winter break (housing not offered)

11:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Spring Semester Event

Time

2025-2026

Residence halls re-open for all students for spring semester

9:00 a.m.

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Last day to change meal plans for spring semester

4:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Selection number draw begins

4:00 p.m.

TBD

Spring break begins (residence halls remain open)

3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Wilch Apartments lottery* 8:30 a.m. TBD
Room Selection Information Table* 11:30 a.m. TBD
12:00 p.m. TBD
Quad Room lottery*  8:30 a.m. TBD
Triple Room lottery* 8:30 a.m. TBD
Single Room lottery* 8:30 a.m. TBD
Senior Doubles Room lottery* 1:00 p.m. TBD
Junior Doubles Room lottery* 9:00 a.m. TBD
Sophomore Doubles Room lottery* 9:00 a.m. TBD
Late room draw* 8:00 a.m. TBD

Singles Waitlist Opens*

8:30 a.m.

TBD

Residence halls close for non-graduating students**

11:00 a.m.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Residence halls open for full summer housing students**

11:00 a.m.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Residence halls close for all graduating students

5:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Residence halls open for eight-week CSRI summer students

1:00 p.m..

TBD

Residence halls close for eight-week CSRI students

5:00 p.m.

TBD

Full summer students transition to fall housing assignments

1:30 p.m.

TBD

*Note: These are housing selection dates for currently enrolled students. Additional information is available on the associated links.  Prospective students and incoming first-year or transfer students should refer to our fall opening web page for information about your housing process.

**Summer students: students who are approved to stay between Block 8 and the beginning of the summer housing agreement date will stay in their academic year housing assignment until they are scheduled to move into their summer housing assignment about a week into the summer.